Right third rib

Looks like

A typical rib of the upper chest, curving from the spine around to its cartilage at the breastbone.

What it does

Protects the upper lung and heart and moves with breathing.

Keeping it well

Breaks with falls or blows to the chest; pain on deep breathing is typical and it heals in about 6 weeks.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Sarcoma
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency